Flying to the PFA Rally.
 

I was supposed to be flying to the Rally with someone else, but he can't make it now. I'm tempted to go by myself, flying in and out at what are (hopefully) non-peak times, ie go around midday one day, leave around the same time the next day. But how sensible/foolhardy is this? Some people have said you really need a second person to keep a good lookout? I've flown in once before, but that was by helicopter to Cranfield, and rotary traffic had completely separate and uncrowded routes. Could be very different from crowded f/w approaches at Kemble, which I don't know very well anyway. I've read the AIC and it looks straightforward, but it's the guys who don't follow the rules that I worry about!

Any advice from those who've done it before would be warmly welcomed.

Not an option open to many people; but the best option for flying in, fixed-wing is the grass runway arrival. Last year I made the trip on Sunday with an extra pair of eyes on board (thank you George) but saw few other machines until we were close to Kemble. The only hazard was some complete moron flying the wrong way round the race-track holding pattern.

It's amazing how all the other traffic evaporates as you climb away on departure: even so, I am not convinced of the wisdom in following closely the published arrival/departure routes away from the immediate area around Kemble...

Flew into last year's rally at Kemble Whirly, and was quite nervous before doing so.

Arrived about 10:30 on the Saturday, and ended up line astern to about about 4 or 5 aircraft on final. Departed about 16:00.

Actually found the departure more disconcerting - with the huge discrepancies between climb rates and speeds of the wide range of aircraft, coupled with the restricted view ahead in the climb. I had aircraft less than 100 yards directly above and below me at one point, and while I could see both, wasn't sure they could see me.

Did have Mrs M9 with me as an extra pair of eyes, but overall it was far less daunting and considerably more enjoyable than I'd anticipated. Just keep a good lookout, go for it, and enjoy!

PS if you fancy an extra lookout, feel free to drop into Upfield Farm and pick me up on route!

M9

Anyone got the AIC link? I can't get the search engine to work from my Blackberry!

http://www.caa.co.uk/dap/dapcharts/o...sp?groupid=302
Is one source of the AIC with extra photos of ground features etc

also its at www.ais.org.uk and www.pfa.org.uk with links from there.

As for the best times to come, early morning is usually quite quiet upto 1000, when it starts to get busier with the peak times probably between 1100 and 1300 local. Friday its steady all day, never quiet, but not as busy as Saturday morning.
Departures are busiest around 3-5pm, after that fairly quiet, particularly on Sunday.
As Philip said, arriving on the grass is easiest, with less traffic and very few people getting it wrong. But the hard runway arrival is also straightforward if you have read the AIC and know what you are doing.
see you there, lets hope the weather is as good as last year!

No landing fees for visiting aircraft at Gloucester that weekend if you buy fuel en route to/from the Rally at Kemble.

Only a short hop across the Cotswolds and could make your flight a little less stressful.:D

If you want to stop off at North Weald on the way, I need to get there somehow on the Friday! I proved my abilities as a spotter with you last year. ;)

Two years ago actually, Aerbabe. And although I'd love to take you, somehow North Weald hardly qualifies as "on the way" from Sleap to Kemble. Nice try though. I'll think about it. Anyway, it now looks as though I may have a navigator/lookout, though it's not definite, so keep replies coming please.

Flew in last year on my own, no probs.
If you are happy flying in the vicinity of other aircraft, keeping your own lookout and not being told what to do by someone one the ground you should not have any problems at all.

Those who can't cope unless someone is on the radio telling them what to do may have more of a problem.

As Mariner9 says the departure is where it gets more interesting as the departures are crammed into a smaller timeframe than the arrivals. The efficient despatch process using 2 runways puts people in the air at a high rate and the slower ones get overtaken by the quicker on climb-out.

I tend to monitor the queue taxying and wit for it to reduce a bit.